He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Jesus sends the disciples out into the world this week to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ministry does not have to be complicated. We are called to be followers of the Jesus Movement.  “Jesus ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.” (Mark 6:8-9)

There are just a few basic expectations that God has for us. In a world where many seem to be looking out for themselves, God asks us to look out for the weak and the powerless. In a world where people are being mean to one another, God asks us to love our neighbor. In a world where people are very self-centered, God asks us to be self-giving. The prophet Micah tells us all we need to know about what God wants from us.

In our humility, we worry that we are not good enough to represent God. But Paul tells us that God’s grace is sufficient, for power is made perfect in weakness. This means that God made you just as you are and loves you. I mentioned last week what St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.  Therefore, there is no one on this planet that God loves more than you and no one that he loves less.” I love this way of looking at the world? If we can love “the least of these” as we love ourselves, we will do amazing ministry. Please discern where you are called to do ministry at St. John’s. Perhaps it is to help out in our thriving Thrift Shop, to pitch in once in a while with our breakfast group, or to join Hilda’s Group on Tuesday afternoon. Can we open our hearts to do justice, love kindness, and humbly walk with our God?

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan